Christians can tell you about Adam and Eve and the sin that they got themselves involved in, but how many can actually explain and teach what follows as Cain leaves Eden and moves on with his life of wandering Chapters 4 and 5 describes for us what the ancient world was like; that world that existed before the flood came and wiped everything out. Some scholars describe this time period as the lost world and for good reason.

Speaker: Mike NobisSunday School Teacher, Former Elder at Madison Park Christian Church. Mike is President of JK Creative Printers & Mailing in Quincy, IL. He is married to Pam and has three children, Tom, Tyler and Jennifer. Mike has three grandchildren: Ryne, Ivy and Alicia.

I am willing to bet that many, if not most Christians are unaware of what is found in the remaining verses of Chapter 4 and most of 5. It is in these verses where many Christians become unsure of what they believe. In our colleges and universities, young Christians get attacked by the evolutionist and atheists who like to strip away the faith of a believer by criticizing the facts found in Genesis 4 and 5. One can almost hear it when the professor questions the young thinker, ďSurely, you canít tell me that you actually believe that the world and man are only 6-10 thousand years old?Ē

Christians can tell you about Adam and Eve and the sin that they got themselves involved in, but how many can actually explain and teach what follows as Cain leaves Eden and moves on with his life of wandering? Chapters 4 and 5 describes for us what the ancient world was like; that world that existed before the flood came and wiped everything out. Some scholars describe this time period as the lost world and for good reason.

What can you tell me about the first human civilization? When you think about this time period, what images come to your head? Where did these images come from and what were the sources of your information?

Unfortunately today, our children get their information from sources that believe that God does not exist and if he doesnít exist, then all life had to come from somewhere else. That somewhere else is evolution, the process of random chance that all things came into being all on their own, totally by accident with no forethought or purpose. Humans are no different than a bug. We both came from the same place even though the human is a much higher being on the scale of life.

What do we know about the first civilization? Unfortunately, not a lot. The only records about what man was like before the flood are found in the Bible. The flood basically destroyed all of what existed during the time described in Genesis 4. Today, archeologists and their science primarily deals with post-flood artifacts. But there are strange artifacts that do come about that are highly advanced and very ancient. Usually when things like these are found, many speculate that either the data has to be wrong or some believe that man had contact with UFOís. The intelligence is too high for early man and man during the ancient years didnít have that type of technology. But did he?

Genesis 4:16-18 (NIV) So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.

Of course the most asked question here is, where did Cainís wife come from? Reason plays a big part here in understanding Chapter 4. If God created one couple, Adams and Eve, then their ability to procreate and populate the earth had to be the source of where Cainís wife came from. Yes, one of the sons of Adam had to mate with one of the daughters of Adam and so on. Even though we donít have the exact figures, it is possible to speculate with reason how rapidly the population grew and developed.

The record in Genesis 5 names the patriarchs and how long they lived. All of them but Enoch lived many years and had sons and daughters. For examples sake, letís assume the following:

ē Each patriarch had 6 kids, 3 sons and 3 daughters
ē The kids grew to maturity and they also had sons and daughters by the time their parents were 80.
ē It is assumed that the parents would live through 5 generations or 400 years.

With these assumptions being true, within the first 800 years it can be easily calculated that the earth had a population of around 120,000 people during the lifetime of Cain. But when we look at the genealogy found in Chapter 5, most likely the people were living a lot longer so the population was probably much larger.

How could brothers and sisters mate together without developing children with deformed genes?

Most likely the first generation of kids came from within brother and sister mating. But as the population grew, it probably wasnít necessary. It is not until Moses that God forbids the mating with the immediate family. Incest is no longer okay once the law comes to Israel. (Lev. 18)

Do you remember what the curse was that God placed on Cain? According to Chapter 4, what was the first thing Cain went out and did? Open rebellion trying to prove Godís prophesy wrong.

Do you notice how scripture described Cainís actions? He was in the process of building the city that he named his son after. There is no mentioning if he completed it or if he stayed. Most likely he didnít according to the curse.

What does this tell you about Cain and his nature?

Genesis 4:18-22 (NIV) To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah.

From what you read in this passage, what is going on?

Too many times when Christians run up against a set of genealogies, immediately the eyes roll back into the head and sleep starts. But these listing are here for a reason. The genealogies tell us a lot about the people, but more importantly, their civilization. Here we have the listing of Cainís family. The three sons of Enoch lead to Lamech. Then there are the are the sons of Lamech. Lamech of course is the key figure and the most important person in Cainís family.

Do you see anything interesting with the sons of Cain? Two have the name God in them, ďelĒ.

What do you see in the character of Lamech? What kind of person was he? He is living in open rebellion to God by taking two wives for himself where God originally ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman.

But it is the sons of Lamech that I want to pay attention to. According to evolutionist today, ancient man was uncivilized, uneducated and primitive. But as we get into the 7th generation of Adamís family, we find quite the opposite.

Jabal: He invented the tent. He helped make it possible to live a nomadic lifestyle. He also developed formal systems for domesticating and commercializing animals beyond Ableís sheep. What we donít know is when did man start to eat meat? Maybe it was through Jabal or his decedents that man started to eat animals breaking the command given to man by God in Genesis 1:29.

Jubal: He was the inventor of music. Not only did he have an ear for it but he also invented string and wind instruments.

Tubal-Cain: The half-brother of Jabal and Jubal was the inventor of metallurgy. He is noted for working with bronze and iron. Not only that, he taught others how to make items of metal, bronze and iron. He was very skilled in what he did.

So where does this all fall in with what historians believe happened in manís ancient history?

Historians and scientists once believed that during the time of Abraham, man was still primitive and unable to speak a formal language nor write. But archeology over the past 120 years has uncovered some pretty surprising discoveries proving man was very well developed much earlier in time. During the time of Abrahamís birth, man at that time was highly educated and were masters of technology, literature and music. They also had famous bands like Sticks, Sand Beatles, Three Dogs one Night, The Rolling Rocks. In Iraq, the Ruins of a temple in Nippur were discovered (2,500 BC). Under it existed a large library with many cuneiforms. The earliest version of the Great Flood was discovered here.

Genesis 4:23-24 (NIV) Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."

We can learn a lot about Cain and his family and much of civilization at the time:

1. They preferred urban life than tilling the ground. Man quickly learned how to build civilization.
2. A nomadic life was preferred rather than the settled life requiring a place for agriculture
3. Cattle raising was started probably because men had become meat eaters.
4. Metal working and tools were developed to ease the toil of the curse
5. Musical instruments were invented to mitigate the sorrow of the curse
6. Polygamy was introduced
7. Metal weapons were invented. The more the weapons, the greater the power man had over other men.
8. Poetic boasting as noted in Lamechís poem told about manís self-sufficiency and independence of God.

What is Lamechís poem all about? It is a blasphemous outburst against God. God warned that of anyone tried to kill Cain, a sevenfold punishment would take place. What is Lamech saying to his wives?

Based on what is recorded here in scripture, where is mankind going in relationship with God?